Life and all in Redding California
A rare view that includes both Castle Crags on the left, and the 3 Shastas to the right.
A perspective gained from the top of the Chamise Peak Trail just north of Redding. The Chamise Peak Trail is considered “easy.” I guess that depends on your skills. It’s only about 2.6 miles one way, but it does rise about 600 ft. Most of the trail is wide and smooth, but towards the peak it gets more narrow and rocky. Click on images to enlarge.
Still, the results are worth the effort. Follow Flanagan Road off Lake Boulevard west to the end, to the trailhead.
A pleasant hike rewards hikers with new perspectives. The Chamise Peak Trail.
It’s Really Redding.
Just another spectacular Autumn day in Northern California. The relatively high lake level seems extra fortuitous for this time of year, perhaps heralding another bountiful water year, climate permitting. The lady of the mountain wearing a skimpy, powdery negligee in anticipation of her dense white winter cloak to come. Meanwhile, these balmy days grow shorter. Make the most of them.
About 25 minutes drive on Interstate 5 north of Redding, you come across a spectacular sight. Granite spires rising through the forest to the west. This is Castle Crags State Park. Pull off the highway for hiking, camping, or just plain gazing upon the beauty of it all.
Technically, these are granite pluons. Molten granite has formed beneath the surface in these shapes, cooling more slowly than the rock around them. The spires are what you can see uncovered as the surface eroded around them. Seeing that, and realizing the time scale involved in their formation, one is left to ponder the insignificance of a single human lifetime in the face of geologic time. Yeah, it’s brief.
Music in the video is an Excerpt of “Eternal Path” by Craig Padilla and Skip Murphy (me) from the CD Phantasma on the Groove Unlimited label. Gobsmacking scenery courtesy of planet earth. It’s Really Redding.
Redding is blessed by an abundance of fresh water.
“Freshwater makes up a very small fraction of all water on the planet. While nearly 70 percent of the world is covered by water, only 2.5 percent of it is fresh. The rest is saline and ocean-based. Even then, just 1 percent of our freshwater is easily accessible, with much of it trapped in glaciers and snowfields.” National Geographic
“Trapped in glaciers and snowfields” for a while, anyway. The snow you see here gracing Mt Shasta will mostly melt away this summer.
We are having an exceptional rain year. I feared we would see mudslides and worse, similar to what Santa Barbara experienced in the winter after their last big fire. So far, so good.
The floodgates of Shasta Dam are not often opened. Check it out, while you can. It’s ReallyRedding.
Is it Shasta Lake, or Lake Shasta? Anyway, here’s a nice looking commercial map of Lake Shasta. Click to enlarge.
Redding is a resort town, although we often seem to forget that. This map makes it clear. You can get a pdf of it to print at:
http://www.northstate.news/
Northstate news also publishes several local newspapers and magazines to which you may subscribe, including Shasta Lake Bulletin, Intermountain News, and After 5.
Driving around downtown, and bicycling the Sacramento River trail, it’s sometimes easy to forget Redding is also a world class resort town near one of the biggest recreational lakes in California. Our busy season starts Memorial Day weekend. Here are some recent scenes from a couple marinas on the Pit Arm all ready for the 2018 seasonal rush.
Only a few days until high season. The economy has been cooking along, lateley. We’ll start seeing some high-end/big-money boats this weekend. New money from out of town. All part of the fun.
A series of views of the Shasta Dam spillway running at high water release I captured on Feb 12 2017. This water flows into the Sacramento River. I believe the flow was around 70,000 cubic feet per second at this point.
I think this was about the same time that state officials became seriously concerned about the Oroville Dam. Shasta looks solid, though. Click to enlarge:
A TV station in Medford Oregon called and asked permission to use my footage of the Shasta Dam spillway, which I found to be gratifying. I asked them to attribute it to Really Redding.
Few northstate activities are more Really Redding than a day on Lake Shasta. So what could be better than a Dinner Cruise on the largest boat in the lake? The lovely Karry and I recently went out for dinner with some friends old and new, on a perfect Shasta evening, and here are some images I captured.
The Dinner Cruise runs Friday and Saturdays in Summer. It takes place onboard the Cavern Queen, which departs from the Shasta Caverns facility up Interstate 5 to O’Brien on Shasta Lake. Reservations are needed, as seatings are obviously limited. A little planning rewards you with a memorable dinner in an unmatched setting. The cruise runs from 6 to 8 pm. The buffet style meal neatly compliments the scenery. We saw deer and eagles, along with campers and waterskiing families out enjoying the 300+ miles of Shasta shoreline. My friend told me that if I wanted to explore other coastlines, it might be worth looking into CruiseAgency and if they are at the standard of the one we just been on then you must check it out.
Below, click on the image to their website. Thank you Captain Dave and the Lake Shasta Dinner Cruise crew! You’re Really Redding.
Welcome to CookHouse at Bridge Bay. Longtime Redding people will recall this restaurant and lounge as Tail O’ the Whale. Click any image to enlarge.
The main dining area is under great spokes radiating from a center pylon. The large windows to the north allow views of Lake Shasta. The marina is in the foreground, and then past the Pit River Bridge, you can clearly see the Gray Rocks with Shasta Caverns. It’s a visually stunning setting.
Our attentive server Alyssa with delicious Potato Skins. Below, Mahi Mahi Tacos. There’s a full wine list, and beer on tap, including an IPA by Fall River. Mmm.
Above, a Seared Ahi on wilted spinach with salad. This plate wasn’t specifically on the menu, but staff was very accommodating to the special request. The CookHouse menu is online at their website.
There’s also some outdoor patio space for al fresco dining, around the perimeter.
The classic lounge is upstairs. Check out this Bloody Mary, served by Dan!
Outside, the views are captivating. All around you are people coming from, and leaving for adventures on emerald Lake Shasta. And of course, attire is beach casual. But that’s true of most of Redding anyway.
Just outside the CookHouse are dozens of chairs for taking in the scenery. Perfect for observing Bridge Bay resort patrons and their watercraft. It’s a very party-like atmosphere, but also just as laid back as you may desire. Lake life!
When people ask why I live in Redding, I often speak of the natural beauty of our surroundings. Lake Shasta plays a large part in the lifestyle and beauty of our region. Bridge Bay and CookHouse offer an unmatched setting for providing food, fun, and access to the lake. And it’s all a very quick and easy 13 mile drive north of Redding proper via Interstate 5.
The lake life, it’s Really Redding.
